mspohr writes: "tethr builds products and services that connect people to the world, enabling the collection and distribution of critical data. The tethr Platform supports the open integration of crisis response applications. Ultimately, tethr establishes a robust communications ecosystem, deployable instantaneously, anywhere on Earth."

From the BBC article (http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120413-communicating-in-a-crisis/1)"What he and his team have come up with is a package of hardware that fits into a case about 6in-long, 4in-wide and 3-in tall (15cmx10cmx7.5cm). It contains the hardware necessary to connect to the net via satellite modem, wi-fi, 3G, ethernet and even dial-up. It also comes with OpenBTS, an open-source GSM messaging box and platform. This prototype runs with a version of the open-source operating system Ubuntu Linux. The software could be tailored to any situation, but right now, Huslage has it loaded up with a database, VOIP software similar to Skype, Ushahidi, and Open Street Map. The user interface, Huslage says, is like a webpage, and is designed to allow the user maximum control over what type of connections to use for certain tasks, and also giving simple instructions on how to, say, point the satellite modem in the right direction."More information:http://blog.ushahidi.com/index.php/2012/03/26/untethered-hardware-connectivity-in-a-crisis/http://newschallenge.tumblr.com/post/19450685278/tethr-evolving-networkshttp://gnuradio.org/redmine/projects/gnuradio/wiki/OpenBTS